Joe McKnight became the second ex-NFL player shot to death in the New Orleans area this year when he was gunned down Thursday afternoon (Dec. 1) in Terrytown. His death came 7 1/2 months after ex-Saints star Will Smith was shot to death in what police described as a road rage incident in the Lower Garden District in April.

McKnight, a local high school football standout at John Curtis Christian School, was a star at USC and played for the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs. He also played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders with the Canadian Football League.

His shooting occurred around 3 p.m. at the intersection of Berman Highway and Holmes Boulevard. A witness, who asked not to be identified, said she saw two men in the intersection, with one yelling at the other who was trying to apologize. The man who was yelling then shot the other man multiple times, according to the witness.

The shooter shot McKnight, stood over him and said "I told you don't you f--- with me," the witness said, adding that the man then fired again.

Smith, the 34-year-old former New Orleans Saints defensive end, was also shot to death in a roadway confrontation, late the night of April 9. Police said Smith and the man accused of shooting him, 28-year-old Cardell Hayes, got into an argument after Hayes rammed his Hummer into Smith's Mercedes-Benz SUV at the end of a brief chase.

The confrontation ended with Hayes shooting Smith eight times, including seven times in the back, authorities have said. Hayes also wounded Smith's wife.

Hayes has pleaded not guilty and his murder trial is scheduled to begin Monday in New Orleans.